Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson represents Guyana in Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 – The Government of Guyana is pleased to announce the selection of the ‘Guyana Hinterland Programme: Solar PV Grid Tie Farms’ by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) for funding by ADFD, as part of the sixth cycle of the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility. The announcement was made this week during the Ninth Session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
The announcement of this award is timely as Guyana continues on its path towards a green economy. For Guyana, this project will receive a loan of US$8 million in the coming year to install 5.2 megawatt (MW) grid-connected solar PV systems in the hinterland communities of Bartica, Kwakwani, Lethem, Mahdia, Port Kaituma, and Matthew’s Ridge to reduce fossil fuel consumption and increase the reliability of electricity supply, thereby moving to the provision of 24 hour sustained electricity generation in these communities. An estimated 34,700 people in the target areas will benefit and around 120 direct and indirect jobs are set to be created throughout the project lifecycle. Though this intervention is not expected to entirely replace diesel generation in the regions, the project will allow the utilities to annually reduce their diesel fuel consumption thereby allowing cost savings and a cleaner environment.
The Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. supported by the Guyana Energy Agency, submitted the project proposal to the ADFD Facility in February 2018 for consideration, and was subsequently shortlisted and awarded in January 2019. Guyana was one of only three countries selected to be awarded this funding out of a submission of 112 proposed projects to the ADFD Facility across the globe.
According to the Director General of ADFD, His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, on Saturday said, “we are proud of our result-oriented Facility that has supported replicable, scalable and potentially transformative renewable energy projects set to benefit communities and improve their living conditions. Today, at the Ninth Session of the IRENA Assembly, we are pleased to have selected truly impactful projects valued at US$31 million for the sixth cycle of financing awarded by the Facility.’ In addition to Guyana, other countries awarded were Togo and Liberia.
The IRENA/ADFD Project Facility helps emerging economies access low-cost capital for renewable energy projects to increase energy access, to improve livelihoods and advance sustainable development.